SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews

Updated November 2024

This page of Swimrun wetsuit reviews looks at several wetsuits that we have personally used in SwimRun races, as well as new suits on the market as this fascinating sport evolves and attracts the big name sports brands.

It's important that we have experience using these wetsuits; according to Otillo, your wetsuit should maximise your range of motion as well as provide protection against cold water.

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CLICK HERE to jump straight to the wetsuit reviews on this page!

First, let's take a look at our FIRST wetsuits that we used in this electrifying new sport.

These were triathlon wetsuits, and we left the arms and legs at full length. Richard had (and still has) a Speedo wetsuit which fits like a glove, but is a little TOO tight for swimrun.

A man wearing a black wet suit with yellow detailing, and a white swim cap and goggles, handing his race tag in at the end of an Oceanman event.

Richard's Speedo triathlon wetsuit

Mogsy had (and also still has) a Huub triathlon wetsuit, also left uncut. She used this at our first ever event in Hvar, Croatia. It turned out to be quite hot on the runs, and we wanted to take our wetsuit tops down.

But the triathlon wetsuits fit very tightly, and it was not easy to get our arms out of the sleeves. EVEN HARDER was trying to get our arms back into the wetsuit when we were hot and sweaty, and the noeprene was sticking to EVERYTHING!

Then we decided that we wanted to upgrade a little to more swimrun-specific suits.

Richard went straight for the Head RACE suit, which comes with long arms and legs, but is adaptable - you can cut the legs down to knee-length for better running, and keep the lower leg sections as neoprene calf guards.

Mogsy had problems getting a standard suit to fit, and elected to go with a custom made-to-measure suit from a wetsuit manufacturer in Wales, U.K. called NoLimit.

We specified front and rear zips, webbing loops front and rear for the swimrun towrope, and external pockets with flaps. Greg at NoLimit wetsuits put together an amazing suit exactly to our measurements. The suit looked amazing, and the quality of construction was very high. We could feel the quality of the seams and stitching.

But, for whatever reason, Mogsy didn't feel comfortable swimming in the suit!

A black wet suit with light green shoulders

Mogsy's custom suit from No Limit

Next, she found a wetsuit from Colting which has been very good.

The Colting wetsuit was designed by a frustrated swimrunner in Sweden who got fed up of waiting for the big companies to produce a decent SwimRun wetsuit. So he designed and manufactured his own. And then went into business producing them!

Mogsy has found the Colting SRO2+ wetsuit to be of extremely high quality - even when she fell at the Ötillö Isles of Scilly race, gashing her arm so badly that it needed stitches at the medical tent afterwards, the wetsuit still held together at the injury area, and helped to control the bleeding over the next 4 hours.

The wetsuit arm was easily repaired with Neoprene Queen adhesive when we got home - Colting suits are quality products!

Richard adapted his Head RACE suit, as seen on the SwimRun wetsuit page HERE.

Mogsy's new Colting SwimRun wetsuit

Colting wetsuit

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Men's

Looking at other SwimRun Wetsuit reviews, we have checked out the BEST 8 men's wet suits that are specifically designed for SwimRun events, and 5 for women, available from Amazon for amazing prices!

We have also researched a minimal neoprene option for those with allergies.

1. Orca Vanir Flex

Introduced in 2022 the Orca Vanir Flex is the Orca entry level option wetsuit, and is good if you are looking for a low budget suit. It still has the high quality of Orca wetsuits with a DuraSkin 2 outer layer preventing tears. It has one large back zipped pocket for storage.

Our readers report this to be Orca´s most comfortable suit yet and very flexible.

Orca Vanir Flex Mens Wetsuit

You can find the best deal for this wetsuit on Amazon HERE.

2. Zone 3 Evolution

This wetsuit was voted 'the gamechanger of the year' by 220 Triathlon magazine when it was first introduced. This is now Richard's favorite suit!

Here are the main features of this suit. You can read my own personal FULL review here!

The shorts are designed using 2mm neoprene down the center, and 5mm neoprene down the sides. The 3mm gives flexibility when running, while the the 5mm sections give additional buoyancy and thermal insulation.

The shoulders and underarm panels are in thin 1.5mm neoprene for maximum flexibility when swimming.

The back and side panels are in 5mm material, for buoyancy and thermal insulation.

Front zip only design. Comes with an emergency whistle and a compass.

There are 2 internal pockets at the front, and a large zipped rear pocket.

The suit comes with 8mm thick calf sleeves, which give a lot of buoyancy to your legs, and help limit heat loss on long swims. BUT they may be restrictive to run in for long. Overall, a great suit!

3. Orca Men's Perform

The Orca Men's RS1 wetsuit is now highly recommended by our readers - 2023 UPDATE

The Orca Men's Perform suit has brightly patterned arms that really stand out and has proved to be very popular with our readers.

Men's Orca RS1 suit

The main features of the SwimRun Wetsuit;

The long arms are detachable, just above the elbows. This leaves you with short arms, if you are racing in temperatures above, say, 14 degrees Celcius for the water and above 18 degrees Celcius ambient air. This feature will help to keep you cool. It also makes it much easier and faster to get the top half of the suit off if you want to "cab down" on a longer run section.

The inner and outer pockets on the legs can hold extra floatation pads, to give you extra buoyancy where you need it most. You can use your Swimrun pads to get more buoyancy, or you can remove them for more freedom of movement.

Flexibility - The yellow 2-mm panels under the arms allow this suit to be extremely flexible, especially for swimming, but also when you are running. It allows your arms to move more freely.

The new DuraSkin material on the lower body is essentially a tough surface treatment that protects the suit surface from minor abrasions caused by rocks, sand or gravel during transitions.

Storage - This suit has a lot of pockets, so you have room to store everything you need. It has two large outer pockets on the legs where you can store Swimrun buoyancy pads, a large back pocket with a zipper, two inner pockets and two chest pockets. Ideal!

The inner lining called "Infinity Skin" is claimed to have several advantages. It uses a high-elasticity nylon including bamboo fibres. This inner lining is claimed to feel smooth and comfortable against your skin, trap body heat better (good for the swim sections but not great for running legs), and to be anti-bacterial, which will help to reduce smells building up.

HERE'S the Link for a great deal at Amazon on the wetsuit!

Overall, I like the Men's Perform wetsuit from Orca. It has several useful features, such as the detachable arms, short legs, and plenty of pockets for storing gear. The neoprene is high-quality from Yamamoto, and the Dura-Skin treatment will help to prevent abrasions and small rips in the vulnerable areas of the suit. But it's not tough enough to prevent a sharp rock penetrating the suit if you fell badly.

Nevertheless, a good choice of SwimRun wetsuit and very popular with our readers.

3b. Orca Core

This is a cheaper option to the Orca Perform and is more basic but still has the detachable arms, the sturdy Duraskin fabric and convenience of a front zipper.

This would a great suit for those just setting out on their Swimrun journey, due to the price, but it is still a lightweight wetsuit, which will provide you with the thermal insulation and performance you will need for your first swimrun races.

Click HERE for more information and the best price.

black and green Orca Core Swimrun Wetsuit

The Orca Core Mens Swimrun Wetsuit

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Men's

4. BlueSeventy Men's Alliance

This BlueSeventy suit comes in a loud orange color around the shoulders and the rear of the legs. Like nearly all SwimRun suits, it comes with long arms and short legs.

BlueSeventy Alliance

This suit boasts the following;

The relatively thick 4mm neoprene panels throughout the suit help to keep you slightly higher in the water while swimming. There are thinner panels around your hips and legs, to give you better flexibility and movement when on the run.

An extended front zip allows you to unzip the suit on the run, helping to keep your body temperature down.

The Alliance swimrun suit has internal seam taping on the arms, which lets you cut the arms to the ideal length for you, without the seams shredding. Most folk will reduce the arm length to help get the top off quickly and back on quickly when going "cab down" on hot runs. The question is - how much to cut? That's up to you? But the arms are not detachable like the Orca suit. Once you cut the Alliance arms, they stay cut!

There are 2 internal pockets, one on each side of your stomach. These are good for small items such as a compass and energy gels. An oversized back pocket is accessible from the outside and sits in the small of the back making it comfortable during the swim and the run.

There are small webbing loops situated on either side of the rear, for clipping things into such as cords and karabiners. These loops are oddly positioned, because they are not useful for attaching a swimrun tow rope.

BlueSeventy use a durable neoprene material for the Alliance suit, to help stand up to the rough nature of swimrun. But again, like the Orca suit, this will not prevent puncture cuts on sharp rocks.

HERE'S the link to purchase this suit at Amazon!

Overall, I am not so keen on the Alliance suit. It does not have the useful features of the Orca suit, and seems a little less flexible. But it does have good buoyancy for swimming, and that longer than standard front zip. Definitely worth a look!

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Men's

5. Zone3 Versa men's. The "Versa" suit from respected company Zone3 is pitched at being an entry-level suit for newcomers to SwimRun.

Zone 3 Versa Mens Wetsuit

This Zone3 suit claims the following advantages;

The back and underarm panels use "Neo-Breathe" fabric, which Zone3 say is a four-way stretch neoprene. They claim it allows moisture and body heat to escape whilst protecting against cold water. Central torso 3mm buoyancy panels.

2024 - Shoulder and arm sleeve panels updated to 1mm high-stretch Smoothskin for improved speed and flexibility.

New leg panel design finished above the knee and thickness reduced to 1mm.

Abrasion-resistant "Gator Fabric" on the legs to minimize abrasions and tears to the suit on rough terrain.

A standard front zip, with a cord. This is easy to pull down or up to help control your body temperature.

Large zipped back pocket and inside pockets as per the Evolution wetsuit.
Removable arm sleeves included.

Here's the link for the best deal at Amazon!

Overall, the Zone3 Versa suit is supposed to be a starter suit, but it has some unique features as detailed above. The detachable arms are useful, making this suit excellent value for money. Definitely recommended!

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Men's

6. 2XU Men's SR1

The 2XU suit has long arms and short legs. The arms are NOT detachable, but may be cut if you want to make them shorter.

2XU men's SR1

Here is the design from 2XU;

Extra-stretch double-sided nylon - For flexibility and water speed

The shoulder and underarm panels are in a thinner-than-average 1.5mm neoprene (most others use 2mm)- for increased flexibility when swimming.

There are thick 8mm neoprene panels over the thighs, for buoyancy in the legs

There are thinner 2mm panels around your hips and pelvis, helping to let you run with reduced resistance from the suit.

There is a large rear pocket for gels, compass, waterproof bandage etc., but it's a little awkward to get in to.

The front zip is longer than usual, to help compensate for the lack of a rear zip. This makes it awkward to take the top down completely on a long warm run, but at least you can open up the entire front of the suit for ventilation.

HERE'S the link for the best deal at Amazon!

Overall, the 2XU suit is unremarkable, without anything that makes it stand out from other SwimRun wetsuits EXCEPT the price. It is very competitively priced, and for that reason is worth looking at. Probably best for events under 30km total distance.

Wetsuit Reviews - Men's

7. ROKA men's Maverick suit

Finally, the TOP of the Range suit from ROKA; This another suit with a front-only zip, NO rear zip. This seems to be the way SwimRun suits are going at the moment. The Roka suit is totally black, with only a few detail colors.

Roka men's Maverick

Thin neoprene under the arms and around the shoulders, 3mm neoprene in the back, and 5 mm neoprene on the chest and 2mm for the legs.

Front zip for quick ventilation and access to interior pockets during the run.

There are 2 internal pockets, 1 on each side of your abdomen, with a velcro closure. I find the velcro a little TOO secure, and the pockets can be difficult to get in to with numb fingers.

The Maverick has a carefully designed crotch area, to reduce rubbing and chafing when running.

In addition to the 2 internal pockets, there is also a slim, low-profile external pocket on the outside of your right leg. It also has a velcro seal, and a small hole at the bottom to allow water to drain out.

HERE'S the link for the best deal at Amazon!

Overall, the Roka is a high-quality suit with the essential features; long front zip, total of 3 accessible pockets, and graded/variable neoprene thickness to allow best flexibility while retaining buoyancy for swimming and enough insulation to keep you warm. This is a premium grade suit priced at around $500.

8. ARK Utö suit.

This suit was introduced in June 2020, and is currently only available direct from ARK. This Swedish company is a sponsor of Ötillö, and they worked closely with many top swimrunners when designing the suit. It is available in both Men's and Women's versions.

ARK Utö men's suit

At a list price of €530, this needs to be something special - and the claims seem to indicate that ARK have indeed produced a suit that is a clear step up from previous suits. Here are some of the key features;

Amazingly low dry weight - from 460 grams to 485 grams for the Men's medium size, for example. That is LIGHT. Of course, some of the weight in a suit when you are running is due to the water that accumulates on a swim leg. ARK have addressed that issue too;

Anti-leak design and construction, to limit the amount of water that gets into the suit. Also;
The woven stretch fabrics are coated with a water repellent material, to reduce drag when swimming, and to shed water like a duck when you transition to a run leg! What else?

A built-in buoyancy foam belt around your waist and kidneys, 4mm thick, that gives more buoyancy than the equivalent thickness of neoprene. This keeps you higher in the water.

Removable arm sleeves in 1mm neoprene, so you can adjust your level of insulation depending on water temperature.
Built-in rear pocket with external access and a flap entry, as we designed with Mogsy's custom suit 2 years ago - looks like some industrial espionage going on there!

Last but by no means least, the whole suit is constructed using Yamamoto's latest material - get this - LIMESTONE neoprene. This is derived from limestone rather than oil-based traditional neoprene, and has several advantages;

Lighter weight
Warmer, as it has 30% more air bubbles in the material for a given thickness.
Tougher - less likely to rip or tear.
More flexible - better for both running and swimming, and results in one single front zip being enough, as opposed to traditional front plus rear zips.
More environmentally friendly as it is not oil-based.

The ARK Utö really does look like a huge leap forward in Swimrun wetsuit design, construction and materials. Check it out at the ARK website.

Minimal Neoprene Wetsuit

HEAD Swimrun myBOOST Lite

This Swimrun wetsuit made by HEAD is a sleeveless, flexible suit that is very lightweight and elastic.

The material is:

Nylon 91% Spandex 9% Inner pocket mesh / Material internal mesh pocket: 81% nylon / 19% spandex

The leg cuffs do have a neoprene seal though to keep out water, so this would be a minimal neoprene option for those with an allergy to neoprene. Also a great wetsuit if you are looking for a sleeveless, lightweight suit.

It has an interior pocket system for floating devices and a long front zipper. The Tow loops on the front and back allow you to attach ropes and other accessories such as a pull buoy, band etc.

A safety whistle is on the zipper puller. This is the perfect suit for warmer temperatures with women’s and men’s models available. In cooler climates you could wear a rash vest underneath.

HEAD Swimrun myBOOST Lite

We are still searching for a completely neoprene free SwimRun wetsuit. Contact us if you have found one!

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Women's

The 5 top wetsuits for women, at great prices from Amazon!

1. Orca Core Womens

UPDATE 2023 - The Orca RS1 Womens SwimRun Wetsuit is now highly recommended by our readers.

The recent design from Orca has bright green arms and side panels, for good visibility on swim legs. The arms are detachable, so you can elect to leave the arms off if racing in moderate temperatures, or keep the on for colder races. It is a front-zip only design, as companies move away from the front-and-rear zip suits.

Orca RS1 suit for women

So, the Core wetsuit has;

2 removable arm sleeves in 2mm neoprene, make this a versatile suit.

It has an outer side pocket for energy gels, compass, waterproof bandage and spare goggles.

The Swimrun Core has the emergency whistle attached to the front zip, which makes it quickly accessible.

A LONG front zip, as this is a single-zip suit, to help getting the suit on and off; you can also pull the zip part-down on the runs to improve cooling.

The Core is made with high quality 39 Cell Yamamoto neoprene, which gives maximum flexibility during your swim and run.

HERE'S the link to the best deal at Amazon!

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Women's

2. 2XU Women's SR1

A performance based wetsuit giving buoyancy and speed through the water.

Has PWX compression to aid faster warm-up andmuscle recovery.

Flexibility through hips and legs.

Long front zip allows you to cool off better during the run.

Yamaoto Limestone Neoprene - the world's most flexible swim neoprene, manufactured in Japan from ecological limestone rather than oil-based materials.

Overall this wetsuit provides enhanced comfort and a great range of movement both swimming and running.

Very reasonably priced at under $200.

The best deal at Amazon can be found HERE

3. BlueSeventy Women's Alliance

Respected wetsuit maker BlueSeventy have this dedicated women's suit; It comes with bright orange panels for the arms and rear of the legs, for high visibility when swimming.

BlueSeventy Alliance women's wetsuit

This suit is the same as the men's version, in a women's cut, and boasts the following;

The relatively thick 4mm neoprene panels throughout the suit help to keep you slightly higher in the water while swimming. There are thinner panels around your hips and legs, to give you better flexibility and movement when on the run.

An extended front zip allows you to unzip the suit on the run, helping to keep your body temperature down.

The Alliance swimrun suit has internal seam taping on the arms, which lets you cut the arms to the ideal length for you, without the seams shredding. Most folk will reduce the arm length to help get the top off quickly and back on quickly when going "cab down" on hot runs. The question is - how much to cut? That's up to you? But the arms are not detachable like the Orca suit. Once you cut the Alliance arms, they stay cut!

There are 2 internal pockets, one on each side of your stomach. These are good for small items such as a compass and energy gels. An oversized back pocket is accessible from the outside and sits in the small of the back making it comfortable during the swim and the run.

There are small webbing loops situated on either side of the rear, for clipping things into such as cords and karabiners. These loops are oddly positioned, because they are not useful for attaching a swimrun tow rope.

BlueSeventy use a durable neoprene material for the Alliance suit, to help stand up to the rough nature of swimrun. But again, like the Orca suit, this will not prevent puncture cuts on sharp rocks.

HERE'S the link to the best deal at Amazon.

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Women's

4. Zone3 Women's Evolution

The Zone3 SwimRun suit for women; Zone3 make the following claims;

Women's Zone 3 Evolution

The shorts are designed using 3mm neoprene down the center, and 5mm neoprene down the sides. The 3mm gives flexibility when running, while the the 5mm sections give additional buoyancy and thermal insulation.

The shoulders and underarm panels are in thin 1.5mm neoprene for maximum flexibility when swimming.

The back and side panels are in 5mm material, for buoyancy and thermal insulation.

Front zip only, the suit comes with emergency whistle and compass.

There are 2 internal pockets at the front, and a large zipped rear pocket.

The suit comes with 8mm thick calf sleeves, which give a lot of buoyancy to your legs, and help limit heat loss on long swims. BUT they can be restrictive to run in.

HERE'S the link to the best deal at Amazon.

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews - Women's

5. ROKA women's Maverick

And the top of the range offering from ROKA; In all-black. This is the same suit as the men's version, but in a women's cut.

Roka women's Maverick

Thin neoprene under the arms and around the shoulders, 3mm neoprene in the back, and 5 mm neoprene on the chest and 2mm for the legs.

Front zip for quick ventilation and access to interior pockets during the run.

There are 2 internal pockets, 1 on each side of your abdomen, with a velcro closure. I find the velcro a little TOO secure, and the pockets can be difficult to get in to with numb fingers.

The Maverick has a carefully designed crotch area, to reduce rubbing and chafing when running.

In addition to the 2 internal pockets, there is also a slim, low-profile external pocket on the outside of your right leg. It also has a velcro seal, and a small hole at the bottom to allow water to drain out.

HERE'S the link to the best deal at Amazon.

SwimRun Wetsuit Reviews

In our review of available SwimRun wetsuit options, we hope you find something suitable! AND remember - don't despair if the first wetsuit you order turns out to be a poor fit, OR doesn't work as well as you'd hoped. It can take a few attempts to get the ideal fit and performance.

If you ordered your SwimRun wetsuit online, and it's plain when you try it on that the size is wrong, you can normally send it back, either to change the size, or else to get a full refund (minus postage costs).